Intermediate Algebra Advice

[Space station]

I would like some advice about Intermediate Algebra for my 8th grader.  She will be finished with Geometry in a month or so.  Geometry has been much easier for her than Algebra, and she loves it.  We are using AOPS Intro to Geometry, but she already knew so much geometry that she tends to just do the end of chapter problems, skipping most of the discovery problems.   She just seems to "get it", including proofs.  She is also doing the charter required on-line program, ALEKS.

 

It was not this way with Algebra, and now I need to choose an Algebra 2/Intermediate Algebra text for her.  She did fine in Algebra, but it was not a love affair and I think some review would do her good.  (She used Fred Beginning Algebra and the required ALEKS.)  I have AOPS Intro to Algebra, which her younger sister is using, but since she did not use it for Algebra, I have thought about having her start with that from about chapter 12 on.  But since she has never used AOPS in the way it is meant to be used, I am not sure that is the best choice.  I also have Fred Advanced Algebra, but she doesn't want to use Fred again.  

 

I am considering Lial's Intermediate Algebra for her, but I am not sure if I should go with the Intermediate Algebra or the combined Beginning and Intermediate Algebra text.  Do you know if the most recent edition is worth it, or can a just get an older edition?  

 

Do you have any advice about this curriculum or other suggestions?

 

Thanks!

[kiana]

Out of curiosity, how does she do on the AOPS "do you need this" test for beginning algebra? Have you looked into this? And what does she think about it? 

[EKS]

We are using Lial's Intermediate Algebra, not only because it is a good text, but because it has a solid review of Algebra I in it.  My son had a very weak Algebra I course at a b&m school a few years ago and Lial has been working well to close the gaps while still allowing him to move forward.

[Space station]

Out of curiosity, how does she do on the AOPS "do you need this" test for beginning algebra? Have you looked into this? And what does she think about it? 

 

Thank you for this thought.  I have printed out the Post Test for Intro to Algebra and will have her try it later today.  Looking at it, I think that she will struggle with some of it, but I will update after she tries it.

[Space station]

We are using Lial's Intermediate Algebra, not only because it is a good text, but because it has a solid review of Algebra I in it.  My son had a very weak Algebra I course at a b&m school a few years ago and Lial has been working well to close the gaps while still allowing him to move forward.

 

Thank you, it helps to know that it starts with review.  Are you using the most recent edition?

[EKS]

Thank you, it helps to know that it starts with review.  Are you using the most recent edition?

 

It starts with some review, and then in each chapter, the first section is usually review as well.  We are using this edition.

[EndOfOrdinary]

My son is a geometry kid as well. In my experience, people either algebra or geometry.  It is the way we tend to see the world.  It does not make one impossible and the other easy, but more that one just clicks and the other is more of a stretch.  Your daughter will probably struggle a bit with Intermediate Algebra, but take off in PreCalc. I mention this only to give you the knowledge that the situation of one subject being easy, yet then toggling back to difficult is not uncommon. 

 

I do not know the best thing to tell you. I would not change curriculum just due to this.  If anything, it is perpetuating holes and fuzzy relationships rather than solidifying how the concepts fit together.  I think having her review in the Algebra 1 text is a great idea.  Your daughter is not behind in math by any means and having things be very firm will only help later as she continues to escalate in the complexity of concepts.  As the math progresses, she is going to be asked to integrate the algebra concepts with the geometry ones.  As much as the geometry might come almost inherently, trying to mix the two together can get very stressful if the algebra are not fairly definite.

[Mike in SA]

Sorry for not responding sooner, but what you describe screams out, "I like theory, and algebra is just 'do this for no reason' material."  Algebra is dull because it is WAY TOO EASY in its standard presentation.  So, what I would recommend is to take a theoretical approach.  Take time out to do number theory first.  Set theory, or even elementary abstract algebra, would not be out of the question.  Then, develop algebra as an extension of the theory.  Prove each conjecture.  It will be more fun, and the content will stick at a deeper level.

 

Gelfand's Algebra (a tiny book, btw) would be good.  But, by all means, avoid spiral repetition as the introduction to the material with this child.  For review/drill, it might be fine, but Alcumus would do just as well for review and practice.

[Space station]

Thank you both for your posts. I think that dd just never saw the point to algebra before, and I like the idea of making it meaningful for her. I do have the AOPS intro to number theory on my shelf, so I will look at that with her and at the AOPS beginning Algebra with her and figure out a plan. Another poster asked what she wanted to do, and she said that she just wants to get through whatever algebra she needs to so that she can get to Trig. At least she has more motivation for algebra this year than last year because she wants more of the trig that she was introduced to a the end of geometry. I will look at that Gelfand book too.

 

Thanks!